Cleaning device

ABSTRACT

A cleaning device comprises a battery-powered suction unit ( 3 ) and a steerable vehicle ( 1 ) on wheels which is driven by muscle power, wherein the suction unit ( 3 ) is drivable on wheels ( 10 ) and is connected to the vehicle ( 1 ). The cleaning device also comprises a suction nozzle ( 4 ) disposed in the region of the steering axis ( 15 ) of the vehicle ( 1 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a cleaning device which is used for cleaning large areas, for example in corridors of hospitals or office buildings, factory halls or the like.

The cleaning of large areas is normally carried out by commercial cleaning enterprises. Usually, it is either manually guided cleaning systems or cleaning machines that are used in this regard. Which of these alternatives is preferred depends on the size and accessibility of the area to be cleaned. In relatively small or awkwardly shaped areas, manually guided cleaning systems, for example, wiping mop systems or vacuum cleaners are usually employed. If large, unobstructed areas are to be cleaned, cleaning machines which, on account of their size and functionality, are adapted to the scale of the cleaning operations to be performed are preferably used.

PRIOR ART

Both manually guided cleaning systems and cleaning machines are well known in the art. In the case of vacuum cleaner systems, conventional vacuum cleaners can be used as manually guided cleaning systems, whereas for very large areas, drivable cleaning machines are known.

For large areas, cleaning machines which involve a large investment are usually used. There is therefore a need for cleaning machines which are suitable for large areas but which simultaneously obviate large investment, maintenance and operating costs.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a suction device for cleaning large areas which both obviates large investment, maintenance and operating costs and reduces the effort required from the cleaning person.

This object is achieved with a cleaning device having the features of claim 1.

The cleaning device according to the invention comprises a battery-powered suction unit and a steerable vehicle on wheels which is driven by muscle power. The suction unit is drivable on wheels and is connected to the vehicle. The suction unit is movable on wheels and is linked to the vehicle. The cleaning device also comprises a suction nozzle in the region of the steering axis of the vehicle. On the one hand, a cleaning device of this type is not dependent on an external power source so that, when cleaning large areas, there is no need repeatedly to detach the power connection and then plug it in again. Furthermore, the suction unit, which is drivable on wheels, is connected to a steerable vehicle which is driven by muscle power, so that a cleaning person is able to cover large distances with a small amount of effort. The disposal of the suction nozzle in the region of the longitudinal axis makes it possible also to guide it very precisely in corner and edge regions, since it is located in the range of sight of the cleaning person operating the cleaning device.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the other claims.

According to a preferred embodiment, the vehicle is a bicycle with a longitudinal axis and a steering rod. A bicycle is easy for the ordinary person to operate and is preferable, in particular, for relatively large areas needing to be cleaned and where no great demands are made on the maneuverability of the vehicle.

Alternatively, the vehicle is a scooter with a longitudinal axis and a steering rod. A scooter offers the advantage, due to its compact construction, that it can be easily transported as well as being a maneuverable and easily operated vehicle. A scooter is also distinguished by having relatively stable driving properties and requires only a very small level of maintenance since, due to the small number of components, only a low level of wear and faults can be expected. The steering of the scooter can be freely chosen. For example, it may be carried out with a steering system wherein, by tilting the steering rod about a horizontal axis, a curved movement of the scooter is initiated. Alternatively thereto, a conventional scooter can also be used, wherein curved travel is brought about by turning the steering rod about a vertical axis. The number of wheels on the scooter is not limited. For example, a wheel at the front and a wheel at the back or two wheels at the front and one wheel at the back can be provided. However, according to a preferred embodiment, the scooter has two front wheels, which further contributes to stable, steady and directionally reliable travel.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the suction nozzle is disposed in front of the steering axis and is coupled to the steering rod. The suction nozzle is therefore not only disposed in the region of the steering axis of the vehicle, but is also moved during a steering movement of the vehicle, so that through specific steering movements, the suction nozzle can be moved into relatively inaccessible regions.

Preferably, the cleaning device also has an apparatus for lifting the suction nozzle of the suction unit, particularly in the form of an actuating rod or a cable pull. Lifting the suction nozzle is advantageous particularly if doors are to be passed through with the cleaning device, thresholds overcome or if other unevenness of the floor arises, including in the case of objects on the floor that are not to be sucked in. In such cases, it is advantageous to lift the suction nozzle briefly to overcome the obstacle. However, this function is also advantageous where different floor coverings need to be looked after and the cleaning device is moved from one region to be vacuum cleaned, over a region not to be vacuum cleaned, to another region that is to be vacuum cleaned.

Preferably, the apparatus for lifting the suction nozzle can be actuated by means of an actuating element in the region of the steering rod. The simplest case of such an actuating element is a handle lever like those provided in motorcycles for actuating the brake and which can be actuated in the normal grip position of a user.

Disposed between the suction nozzle and the suction unit, the cleaning device preferably has a flexible suction hose, which is detachably fastened to the vehicle by means of fixing clips. If the vehicle is a scooter, the suction hose can preferably be detachably fastened to the standing surface by means of fixing clips. By this means, it is ensured that the suction hose does not cause interference to the cleaning person or make contact with the floor.

In the case where the vehicle is embodied as a scooter, it also comprises a coupling device between the scooter and the suction unit, disposed in the direction of travel at the rear of the scooter. The batter-powered suction unit is therefore drawn along behind the scooter, whereas the suction nozzle is situated at the front of the scooter in the region of the longitudinal axis. In this regard, it has been found to be advantageous to provide the suction unit with two rigid wheels and one pivotable wheel such that, with the scooter and the suction unit in the coupled condition, the pivotable wheel does not make contact with the floor. In other words, in the coupled condition, the front part of the suction unit, in the region of whose base the pivotable wheel is situated, is slightly raised so that the suction unit is passively guided over the floor by means only of the rigid wheels in the rear region of the base of the suction unit, without being able to develop its own movement dynamics.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the coupling mechanism between the scooter and the suction unit has two eccentric mounting positions. These serve to prevent the cleaning person hitting the suction unit with their heel when pushing the scooter. Two eccentric mounting positions serve to give the cleaning person the possibility to attach the suction unit offset behind the scooter to one or the other side as desired, depending on which leg the cleaning person uses to push the scooter along.

A particularly preferable alternative for attachment of the suction unit to the vehicle is provided by a coupling device with a ball pivot. The provision of a ball pivot enables unevenness in the floor and floor sections that are disposed slightly angled to one another to be compensated for in that, within limits, a pivot movement is possible between the vehicle and the suction unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in greater detail in a purely exemplary manner, referring to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a cleaning device according to the invention in the form of a scooter with a suction unit coupled to it;

FIG. 2 shows the cleaning device of FIG. 1, but with the suction unit detached; and

FIG. 3 shows the cleaning device of FIG. 1, wherein an actuating device for lifting the suction nozzle is actuated.

WAYS OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the following figures, the same components are identified with the same reference numerals.

The cleaning device shown in FIG. 1 is denoted as a whole with the reference numeral 20 and comprises a scooter 1 which is configured for professional standard long-term use, and a vacuum cleaner 3 which is linked, via a coupling device 2, to the scooter. The vacuum cleaner 3 can be operated independently of the mains network and therefore needs no mains cable. The energy supply of the suction unit 3 is provided by a rechargeable battery.

In order to be able to suck up the dirt from the floor, mounted in front of the scooter 1 is a broad suction nozzle 4 which, when the scooter is travelling straight ahead, is oriented transversely to the direction of travel and whose width depends on the suction power of the vacuum unit and is in the range of approximately 0.5 m to 1 m, in order to enable the desired rapid cleaning of large areas. The suction nozzle 4 is connected directly to the steering device of the scooter, so that on a steering movement of the scooter to the right or the left, the nozzle is also automatically pivoted in this same direction. The connection between the suction nozzle 4 and the scooter is made with the aid of fastening struts 5 which are mounted directly on the wheel axles of the two wheels 14 disposed forwardly on the scooter. Thus, by means of the fixing of the suction nozzle 4 to the wheel axles, every pivot movement of the scooter is transmitted directly to the suction nozzle 4.

The scooter is provided with a steering axis 15 and a steering rod 16 to which handle elements can be attached for easier actuation of the steering rod. An actuating lever 6 on the steering rod 16 is easy for the user to grasp and cooperates with the suction nozzle 4 via a rod 7 which is mounted in articulated manner on the actuating lever 6 such that, on actuation of the actuating lever 6, the nozzle can be lifted off the floor during travel. This is necessary particularly where objects that should not be driven over by the nozzle, such as cables and conduits, as well as floor coverings and door thresholds, are lying on the floor.

For the conduction of the air sucked in, a flexible hose 8 is mounted between the suction nozzle 4 and the suction unit 3 and said hose is laid such that it does not impede the cleaning person during driving of the scooter and can also be easily detached from the scooter for maintenance and cleaning purposes. For this purpose, various fixing clips 9, with which the flexible hose 8 is attached to the standing portion 17 of the scooter, are provided.

The coupling device 2 between the scooter and the suction unit is configured such that, with the scooter 1 and the suction unit 3 in the coupled condition, the front part of the suction unit no longer touches the floor and the suction unit 3 is merely caused to follow by means of the two rear wheels 10. In order to design conventional suction units 3 sufficiently maneuverable, as a rule, a pivotable wheel 18 is provided at the front end of the suction unit and said wheel is herein lifted, so that it cannot exert a disruptive influence on the movement of the suction unit behind the scooter. By this means, no special trailer is needed for the suction unit, but rather the suction unit 3 itself comprises a trailer for the scooter 1 with the two rigid wheels 10.

Since the suction unit 3 is broader than the scooter 1, the coupling device 2 attached to the scooter 1 has two possibilities for attachment, as shown in FIG. 2 and identified with the reference numeral 11. This is useful in order to offset the suction unit 3 slightly laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the scooter 1. The lateral offsetting of the suction unit 3 ensures that when the scooter is driven and when it is pushed off by foot, no collision with the suction unit housing takes place. The two separate possibilities 11 for linking serve to place the suction unit on one side or the other, depending on the preference of the operating person and the leg with which the pushing off against the floor is performed can therefore move freely backwards without hitting the heel against the suction unit 3.

The coupling device 11 between the scooter 1 and the suction unit 3 comprises a ball pivot extending upwardly on the rear of the scooter and a corresponding receptacle fastened to the suction unit and hooked on from above. The coupling comprises a joint with the ball pivot and the pivotable mating receptacle, which enables travel round curves and which makes the cleaning device comprising the scooter 1 and the suction unit 3 maneuverable.

FIG. 2 shows the suction unit 3 uncoupled from the scooter 1. The possibility of uncoupling is required in order to be able to cover edge and corner regions and surfaces with furniture standing on them during the complete cleaning process. Although, due to the size of the whole unit comprising the scooter 1 and the suction unit 3, the main use of the cleaning device is above all on large surfaces and broad passageways, for special cleaning tasks, the vacuum cleaner can also be used independently of the scooter. For this purpose, the suction hose 9 is unplugged from the suction nozzle 4 built onto the scooter 1 and is used with a hand-guided nozzle 13 and deployed separately from the scooter 1. In this regard, it is also useful to equip the scooter with four wheels in order to give it stability to stand upright when separated from the suction unit.

The releasable coupling device 11 between the scooter 1 and the suction unit 3 has the further advantage of being able to reduce the size of the complete unit after completion of the cleaning operation. The suction unit is separated from the scooter at the coupling device 11, the suction hose 9 is separated from the suction unit and the suction unit 3 can be stored upright in space-saving manner. In that the scooter also has a steering rod which can be folded down, the scooter can also be stored upright with the steering rod folded down, so that the space required for storing the whole cleaning device is further reduced.

FIG. 3 shows the cleaning device of FIG. 1 comprising the suction unit 3 and the scooter 1, wherein the actuation of the actuating lever 6 is shown, wherein the rod 7 is moved upwards in the direction of the arrow A and the suction nozzle 4 carries out an upward pivoting movement B, so that said suction nozzle is lifted off the floor. The actuating lever is preferably lockable in the position shown in FIG. 3, so that relatively large distances can be covered with the suction nozzle lifted without the operator having to actuate the actuating lever 6 throughout this period.

The cleaning device according to the invention can also be modified such that, for more energy saving use of the energy supply, a signal connection can be made between the suction unit and the vehicle, so that the operator can switch the battery-powered suction unit off from the steering rod when it is not needed for a time.

The cleaning device according to the invention enables large surfaces, such as those that occur in department stores, hotels or office buildings, to be vacuum cleaned easily and for the cleaning process to be completed in a short time. 

1. Cleaning device comprising a battery-powered suction unit; a steerable vehicle on wheels which is driven by muscle power, wherein the suction unit is drivable on wheels and is connected to the vehicle; and a suction nozzle disposed in the region of the steering axis of the vehicle.
 2. Cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a bicycle with a steering axis and a steering rod.
 3. Cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a scooter with a steering axis and a steering rod.
 4. Cleaning device according to claim 3, wherein the scooter comprises two front wheels.
 5. Cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the suction nozzle is disposed in front of the steering axis.
 6. Cleaning device according to claim 5, also comprising an apparatus for lifting the suction nozzle of the suction unit, particularly in the form of an actuating rod or a cable pull.
 7. Cleaning device according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus for lifting the suction nozzle can be actuated via an actuating element linked to the steering rod.
 8. Cleaning device according to claim 1, also comprising a flexible suction hose between the suction nozzle Band the suction unit, said suction hose being detachably fastened to the vehicle by means of fixing clips.
 9. Cleaning device according to claim 8, wherein the vehicle is a scooter and the suction hose is detachably fastened to the standing surface of the scooter by means of fixing clips.
 10. Cleaning device according to claim 3, also comprising a coupling device between the scooter Band the suction unit disposed, in the direction of travel, at the rear of the scooter.
 11. Cleaning device according to claim 10, wherein the suction unit comprises two rigid wheels and one pivotable wheel which is linked to the scooter such that the pivotable wheel does not make contact with the floor.
 12. Cleaning device according to claim 10 wherein the coupling device comprises two eccentric mounting positions.
 13. Cleaning device according to claim 10, wherein the coupling device comprises a ball pivot.
 14. Cleaning device according to claim 3, wherein the scooter also has a steering rod which can be folded down relative to the standing surface. 